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He said: “There have been a few games where it’s been close and others where Celtic have been clearly the better team. Nobody can argue with that but that shouldn’t stop it being a close affair.

“Rangers have to catch Celtic and the hardest task they have is making up that ground. If they were to win it, it would show tangible progress.

“If Celtic win, then they have been the favourites and Rangers will have to carry on trying to catch them up. Celtic were in a similar situation a few years back and they did it. Rangers have to find a way to win and they then have to keep on winning these games.”

Smith also heaped praise on a support he feels are unsurpassed in the global game.

He said: “The one consistent factor at Rangers over the last five years or so has been the support, they are the heart of the club. The fans over that time have been incredible. You can’t speak highly enough about them.

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“It’s amazing when you watch Sky Sports on a Saturday and if Arsenal and Man United are away from home Rangers have the biggest support – against Elgin.

“It’s their season-ticket money that has kept the club steady, they are the one thing which will ensure the club always keeps going.”

A crowd of 15,050 were at Ibrox to see Smith’s XI go down 8-3 to Ally McCoist’s XI with the likes of Sebastian Rozental, Thomas Buffel, Pedro Mendez, Lorenzo Amoruso, Michael Mols and Mark Walters on show to raise funds for Rangers Charity Foundation and Rangers Youth Development Company.

There was a special cheer for Nacho Novo after his recent heart attack but Fernando Ricksen got the loudest roar when he lined up for pre-match pictures with the players.

McCoist rolled back the years with a hat-trick and in traditional style he missed two sitters when it really should have been five goals for the Man of the Match.